Broad Bean pests

[Bec]

it's nearly time for me to be sowing broad beans so I'm thinking ahead- last year I had quite a few orangey-red 1/2 inch long almost oblong shaped beetles cavorting on my broad beans. I think they might have been lily beetles(?). Were they doing my broad beans any harm? I kept knocking them off the tops of the beans and squishing them just in case but if they're not a problem I'd like to live and let live. I'd never seen them in my garden before - will they damage anything else- flowers or veg?

[Alison]

If they were lily beetles, and they do sound like it, see entry on:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0500/beetle.asp
(and I'm sure someone less digitally-challenged than me can provide a photo!) please go on squishing them, as they are spreading at a rate of knots across the country, and not only eat lilies but also fritillaries which are native wild plants, and do huge damage. However, I don't think they eat beans!
Alison

[alan refail]

Were they like this?


LILY BEETLE

Alan

[Bec]

Hi Alan- have been busy so haven't been onto Forum for a while - but yes that is exactly what the beetles looked like. So I should carry on squishing them then?

[alan refail]

Probably only need to worry if you've got lilies. But have a look at Alison's link.

Alan